Several teams, including the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are in need of new stadiums. However, as NFL.com's Albert Breerpointed out Friday, the economics of constructing a modern NFL facility can be cost-prohibitive."The four stadiums that turn 10 this year -- Detroit's Ford Field ($430 million), New England's Gillette Stadium ($325 million), Seattle's CenturyLink Field ($430 million) and Houston's Reliant Stadium ($352 million) -- cost less combined than the newest one (MetLife Stadium, $1.6 billion)," Breer said.Keeping up with the technological side of viewing games is a factor in cost for both new stadiums and older ones."For stadiums from that four-year, nine-stadium boom (Cincinnati, Denver, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Houston, New England, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia) of a decade ago, it means higher quality videoboards ...; connectivity that keeps up with mobile technology and allows full use of smartphones on-site; and the highest level of interactivity possible. It'll also likely mean moving the stadium outside the walls, with additional entertainment and conditions on the perimeter," he said.Marc Ganis, president of SportsCorp, a consulting firm that works with clubs on stadiums, thinks the following teams will end up with new stadiums, despite the costs."In some cases, these renovations may cost more than the stadiums did in the first place," Ganis said. "I'd guess the Chargers will get a new stadium, and the Falcons will find a way to do it, and eventually, L.A. will get done. But it won't be easy."

totally agree on the beer guy for upper decks.
have a few kiosks out front so once you are patted down, you get a bracelet thingy and walk right in.

more food choices.
don't allow ANYONE who is wearing a jersey of a team that is NOT playing at BofA to enter.

introduce some kind of rewards card thingy. give me a deal on a beer or dog after I have used some of my kids college fund just to go to a game.
allow more folks who are there to be entered into some kind of raffle and at the end of the 3rd qrter announce the winner. you get like a jersey or a field pass or something. reward those who keep showing up and giving you THEIR money.

Why does that espn article say we need a new stadium? So the life of a stadium spans only 16 years then it's time to build new? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. BofA is a great stadium in great shape.

Why does that espn article say we need a new stadium? So the life of a stadium spans only 16 years then it's time to build new? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. BofA is a great stadium in great shape.

I thought the same thing. They are stupid if they think we already need another one.

Sure sounds like a team that needs a new stadium... maybe the guy that wrote the nfl.com article should google "panthers stadium" like I just did to get some real information for his article?

November 02, 2011

Panthers eyeing stadium renovation

The Panthers have chosen the architectural firm that designed Bank of America Stadium to lead a year-long study in developing a master plan for renovating the 16-year-old facility, team president Danny Morrison said today.

Populous, which was known as HOK Sport when the 74,000-seat stadium opened in 1996, will work with a pair of firms from the Carolinas on the study. David Wagner of Wagner Murray in Charlotte designed the premium sections at the stadium, while Ron Smith of Spartanburg-based McMillan, Pazdan and Smith oversaw the recent weight room renovation.

The Panthers chose HOK over three other architects because of its familiarity with the stadium. Morrison said all four firms said the stadium is in great shape.

“The bones are fantastic. It's been superbly maintained over the years. It still looks fresh and updated because a lot of money's been put into the stadium over the years,” Morrison said. “They love the concept of the 'stadium in the park' with all the landscaping around the stadium and the location of the stadium.”

Morrison said team officials are not interested in increasing the capacity of the stadium, but provided few details of what the might renovation might entail. Morrison has talked in the past about bringing the home-viewing experience to fans attending the game in person.

“Technology is so fast-moving that you don't know what technology will be in the next five years,” Morrison said.